Joseph M. Mandula entered the military service in Indiana. He served in the 368th Bomber Squadron, 306th Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Sergeant and Ball Turret Gunner of the B-17 #43-37633 during World War II. He was Killed in Action on December 15, 1944 when his plane, on return from Kassel, Germany, was involved in a mid-air collision with #43-38019 due to bad weather and extremely poor visibility over Greenham Common, UK. It is apparent that neither pilot saw the the other aircraft. SGT Mandula is now buried in the Cambridge American Cemetery, Cambridge, United Kingdom.